What is Tall Oaks' Educational Philosophy?
TOCS uses the Christ-centered and classical philosophy of education and teaching methodology set forth in Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning - by Douglas Wilson. This approach to education is inherently different than offered in schools established, controlled, and developed by those who hold to non-biblical, humanistic philosophies. At all its levels, programs, and teachings, TOCS seeks to:
- Teach all subjects as parts of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Provide a clear model of Biblical Christian life through its staff and Board. (Matthew 22:37-40).
- Encourage every child in the development and maintaining of his relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Emphasize grammar, logic, and rhetoric in all subjects.
- Encourage every student to develop a love for learning and to achieve his academic potential.
- Provide an orderly and disciplined atmosphere conducive to the attaining of these goals.
Comparison of Educational Approaches
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| Classical Christian Education | Modern Education |
| Christ-centered education | Man-centered education |
| Original documents based | Textbook based |
| Education for formation | Education for information |
| Development of critical thinking - "Why?" | Development for correct procedures - "How?" |
| Emphasis on true, good, and beautiful | Emphasis on politically correct |
| Integrated interdisciplinary learning | Fragmented and disjointed learning |
| Latin taught as a core requirement | Latin taught as an elective |
| Appreciation of western civilization | Critique of Western Civilization |
| Humanities and fine arts emphasis | Techno-rational emphasis |
| Requires the student to learn how to learn | Requires the student to learn how to pass tests |
| Mastery as working to one's fullest potential | Mastery as measured by test grades |
| Lifelong love of learning as the ultimate goal | Graduation as the ultimate goal |
| Truth is objective, knowable, and absolute | Self-actualization, achieving personal peace & affluence |
| Parents as primary educators | Teachers as primary educators |